Content delivery system, content server, and content delivery method

ABSTRACT

To provide a contents distribution system, a contents server and a contents distribution method that do not need a layout operation at the time of distribution of contents and that enable a check of the content of image data that is hard to browse. When distribution of contents is requested from a contents display terminal to a contents server, a contents distribution server obtains the classification of the contents display terminal, and obtains text data and image letter data corresponding to a font size of terminal information via the contents management server. The contents distribution server couples the obtained image letter data and text data to generate a contents page, and distributes the contents page to the contents display terminal.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a distribution system, acontents server and a contents distribution method for distributingcontents composed of text data and image data via a network.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] In a homepage that displays text data and image data via theInternet, in a case where the size of image data to be displayed islarge or in a case where there are a plurality of image data, data to bedistributed is downsized by a method of, for example, distributing apage of only text data and making link from there to a page of onlyoriginal image data, or inserting reduced image data of original imagedata into a page of text data and making link to a page of only originalimage prepared separately, whereby a load on the network is reduced.

[0003] An image recording and reproducing apparatus disclosed inJapanese Unexamined Patent Publication JP-A 6-309375 (1994) stores byassociating an entire reduced image obtained by reducing the whole imagedata with partial image of a predetermined portion (for example, acentral portion) in the same size as the entire reduced image.Consequently, a speedy image search is enabled.

[0004] A document filing apparatus disclosed in Japanese UnexaminedPatent Publication JP-A 9-81583 (1997) stores by associating an entiredocument image with a partial image captured from the entire image, andpresents to a user as a partial image index at the time of searching.Consequently, registration of a document is facilitated, and a load on auser is reduced.

[0005] A document image management apparatus disclosed in JapaneseUnexamined Patent Publication JP-A 9-319765 (1997) extracts an importantportion image from image data of a document image as a key region, anddisplays the key region and bibliographical information together.Consequently, it is possible to grasp the most content of the documentimage without displaying the whole image, and it is possible to decreasethe cost of display.

[0006] However, in the case of making link from a page of only text datato a page of only original image data of contents, there is a problemthat it is difficult to understand the content of original image only bybrowsing the page of only text data even if there is an explanation ofthe original image data in the content of the text data.

[0007] Further, although in the case of preparing a page that a reducedimage of original image data is inserted into a text page and makinglink from there to a page of only original image data of contents, it iseasier to understand than in the case of browsing a page of only textdata, there is a need to manually lay out text data in accordance withthe height and width of a reduced image of each image data.

[0008] Further, other than the above problems, in a case where originalimage data is image data that is too large to display on a display of acontents display terminal or image data of an undisplayable imageformat, there is a problem that it is difficult to browse the originalimage data and check the content.

[0009]FIG. 7 is a conventional display example of contents in whichimage data and text data coexist. Reduced image data 50 of originalimage data has a height of three lines and a width of three letters, andthe image data and the text data should be laid out based on thatinformation.

[0010] Because a size of original image data 52 obtained by linking froma page of a display example 51 is larger than a size of a display 53 ofa contents display terminal, it is impossible to check the whole at onetime. Moreover, in a case where it is impossible to display and checkbecause of a certain problem, for example, in a case where a contentsdisplay terminal is not compatible with the format of original image,there is no choice but download the original image data 52 as it iswithout checking.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

[0011] An object of the invention is to provide a contents distributionsystem, a contents server and a contents distribution method that do notneed a layout operation at the time of distribution of contents and thatenable a check of the content of image data which is difficult tobrowse.

[0012] The invention provides a contents distribution system comprising:

[0013] a contents display terminal for displaying contents composed oftext data and image data on a display; and

[0014] a contents server for distributing the contents to the contentsdisplay terminal via a network in response to a distribution requestfrom the contents display terminal; the contents server including:

[0015] contents storing means for storing the contents; and

[0016] image converting means having an image converting function ofconverting the image data to image letter data of a same size as a fontsize of the text data displayed by the display of the contents displayterminal,

[0017] wherein, in response to a contents distribution request from thecontents display terminal, the contents server couples the text data andthe image letter data and distributes the coupled data to the contentsdisplay terminal.

[0018] According to the invention, the contents server causes the imageconverting means to convert the image data of contents to the imageletter data of the same size as the font size of text data displayed bythe display of the contents display terminal. When distribution ofcontents is requested from the contents display terminal to the contentsserver, the contents server couples the text data and the image letterdata and distributes the coupled data to the contents display terminal,with the result that it is allowed to deal with image data as one letterof text data, it is unnecessary to do a manual layout operation evenwhen image data and text data coexist, and it is possible to distributecontents that the outline of image data is easier to understand than apage of only text data of contents.

[0019] Further, the invention is characterized in that:

[0020] the image converting means converts the image data of thecontents to preview image data of almost a same size as a display sizeof the contents display terminal; and

[0021] the contents server distributes the preview image data to thecontents display terminal in response to a preview image datadistribution request from the contents display terminal.

[0022] According to the invention, the contents server causes the imageconverting means to convert the image data of contents to preview imagedata of almost the same size as the display size of the contents displayterminal. When distribution of the preview image data is requested fromthe contents display terminal to the contents server, the contentsserver distributes the preview image data to the contents displayterminal, with the result that the whole image data is displayed in asuitable size for the display, and it becomes easier to check the wholeimage data.

[0023] Further, the invention is characterized in that:

[0024] the contents server distributes the image data to the contentsdisplay terminal in response to an image data distribution request fromthe content display terminal; and

[0025] the contents display terminal has image data storing means forstoring distributed image data, and displays the distributed image datawhen it can be displayed on the display.

[0026] According to the invention, the contents display terminal storesdistributed image data in the image data storing means. Image data isdisplayed when it can be displayed on the display, and it is alsopossible, in a case where it cannot be displayed for such a reason thatan image format is not suited, to output image data stored in the imagedata storing means from an appropriate output apparatus as necessary.

[0027] The invention is characterized in that the contents servercomprises terminal information storing means for storing the font sizeof the text data displayed by the display of the contents displayterminal and the display size as terminal information.

[0028] According to the invention, the contents server comprises theterminal information storing means, and the font size of the text datadisplayed by the display of the contents display terminal and thedisplay size are stored as terminal information in the terminalinformation storing means, with the result that, based on the terminalinformation, the image converting means can generate, from image data,image letter data converted to almost the same size as the font size andpreview image data converted to almost the same size as the displaysize. Therefore, even in the case of distributing contents to aplurality of contents display terminals having different font sizes anddisplay sizes, it is possible, by storing terminal information of therespective contents display terminals in the terminal informationstoring means, to distribute image letter data and preview image data ofappropriate sizes to the respective contents display terminals.

[0029] Further, the invention provides a contents server fordistributing contents composed of text data and image data to a contentsdisplay terminal via a network in response to a distribution requestfrom the contents display terminal, the contents server comprising:

[0030] contents storing means for storing the contents; and

[0031] image converting means having an image converting function ofconverting the image data to image letter data of almost a same size asa font size of text data displayed by the display of the contentsdisplay terminal,

[0032] wherein, in response to a contents distribution request from thecontents display terminal, the contents server couples the text data andthe image letter data and distributes the coupled data to the contentsdisplay terminal.

[0033] According to the invention, the contents server causes the imageconverting means to convert the image data to image letter data ofalmost the same size as the font size of text data displayed by thedisplay of the contents display terminal. When distribution of contentsis requested from the contents display terminal to the contents server,the contents server couples text data and image letter data anddistributes the coupled data to the contents display terminal, with theresult that it is allowed to deal with image data as one letter of textdata, it is unnecessary to do a manual layout operation even when imagedata and text data coexist, and it is possible to distribute contentsthat the outline of image data is easier to understand than a page ofonly text data of contents.

[0034] The invention is characterized in that:

[0035] the image converting means converts the image data of thecontents to preview image data of almost the same size as a display sizeof the contents display terminal; and

[0036] in response to a preview image data distribution request from thecontents display terminal, the preview image data is distributed to thecontents display terminal.

[0037] According to the invention, the contents server causes the imageconverting means to convert the image data of contents to the previewimage data of almost the same size as the display size of the contentsdisplay terminal. When distribution of the preview image data isrequested from the contents display terminal to the contents server, thecontents server distributes the preview image data to the contentsdisplay terminal, with the result that the whole image data is displayedin a suitable size for the display, and it becomes easier to check thewhole image data.

[0038] The invention is characterized by comprising terminal informationstoring means for storing the font size of the text data displayed bythe display of the contents display terminal and the display size asterminal information.

[0039] According to the invention, the contents server comprises theterminal information storing means, and the font size of the text datadisplayed by the display of the contents display terminal and thedisplay size are stored as terminal information in the terminalinformation storing means, with the result that, based on the terminalinformation, the image converting means can generate, from image data,image letter data converted to almost the same size as the font size andpreview image data converted to almost the same size as the displaysize. Therefore, even in the case of distributing contents to aplurality of contents display terminals having different font sizes anddisplay sizes, it is possible, by storing terminal information of therespective contents display terminals in the terminal informationstoring means, to distribute image letter data and preview image data ofappropriate sizes to the respective contents display terminals.

[0040] Further, the invention provides a contents distribution methodthat a contents server comprising image converting means and contentsstoring means distributes contents composed of text data and image datavia a network in response to a distribution request from a contentsdisplay terminal, the contents distribution method comprising the stepsof:

[0041] storing uploaded contents in the contents storing means of thecontents server;

[0042] converting image data to image letter data of almost a same sizeas a font size of text data displayed by a display of the contentsdisplay terminal, by the image converting means of the contents server;and

[0043] coupling the text data and the image letter data and distributingthe coupled data to the contents display terminal, in response to acontents distribution request from the contents display terminal, by thecontents server.

[0044] According to the invention, contents are distributed by the stepof storing uploaded contents in the contents storing means of thecontents server, the step of converting image data to image letter dataof almost the same size as the font size of the text data displayed bythe display of the contents display terminal, by the image convertingmeans of the contents server, and the step of coupling the text data andthe image letter data and distributing the coupled data to the contentsdisplay terminal, in response to a contents distribution request fromthe contents display terminal, by the contents server, with the resultthat it is allowed to deal with image data as one letter of text data,it is unnecessary to do a manual layout operation even in a case whereimage data and text data coexist, and it is possible to distributecontents that the content of image data is easier to understand than apage of only text data of contents.

[0045] The invention is characterized in that:

[0046] the image converting means converts the image data of thecontents to preview image data of almost a same size as the display sizeof the contents display terminal; and

[0047] the contents server distributes the preview image data to thecontents display terminal in response to a preview image datadistribution request from the contents display terminal.

[0048] According to the invention, the contents server causes the imageconverting means to convert the image data of contents to the previewimage data of almost the same size as the display size of the contentsdisplay terminal. When distribution of the preview image data isrequested from the contents display terminal to the contents server, thecontents server distributes the preview image data to the contentsdisplay terminal, with the result that the whole image data is displayedin a suitable size for the display, and it becomes easier to check thewhole image data.

[0049] The invention is characterized in that the image converting meansconverts image data based on the font size of the text data displayed bythe display of the contents display terminal and the display size.

[0050] The invention is characterized in that the contents server storesthe font size of the text data displayed by the display of the contentsdisplay terminal and the display size as terminal information.

[0051] According to the invention, the contents server stores the fontsize of the text data displayed by the display of the contents displayterminal and the display size as terminal information, with the resultthat, based on the terminal information, the image converting means cangenerate can generate, from image data, image letter data converted toalmost the same size as the font size and preview image data convertedto almost the same size as the display size. Therefore, even in the caseof distributing contents to a plurality of contents display terminalshaving different font sizes and display sizes, by storing terminalinformation of the respective contents display terminals in the terminalinformation storing means, it is possible to distribute image letterdata and preview image data of appropriate sizes to the respectivecontents display terminals.

[0052] In the invention, it is preferable that the image data is stillimage data.

[0053] In the invention, it is preferable that the image data is movingimage data.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0054] Other and further objects, features, and advantages of theinvention will be more explicit from the following detailed descriptiontaken with reference to the drawings wherein:

[0055]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the constitution of a contentsdistribution system, which is a first embodiment of the invention;

[0056]FIG. 2 is a view showing a contents display example of theembodiment of the invention;

[0057]FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a contents registration process of acontents management server in the contents distribution system of thefirst embodiment of the invention;

[0058]FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a contents distribution process of acontents server in the contents distribution system of the firstembodiment of the invention;

[0059]FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a preview image data distributionprocess of the contents server in the contents distribution system ofthe first embodiment of the invention;

[0060]FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an original image data distributionprocess of the contents server in the contents distribution system ofthe first embodiment of the invention;

[0061]FIG. 7 is a conventional display example of contents in whichimage data and text data coexist;

[0062]FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the constitution of a contentsdistribution system, which is a second embodiment of the invention;

[0063]FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a contents registration process of acontents management server in the contents distribution system of thesecond embodiment of the invention;

[0064]FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a contents distribution process ofa contents server in the contents distribution system of the secondembodiment of the invention;

[0065]FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a preview image data distributionprocess of the contents server in the contents distribution system ofthe second embodiment of the invention;

[0066]FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an original image data distributionprocess of the contents server in the contents distribution system ofthe second embodiment of the invention;

[0067]FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the constitution of a contentsdistribution system, which is a third embodiment of the invention;

[0068]FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a contents registration process ofa contents management server in the contents distribution system of thethird embodiment of the invention;

[0069]FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a contents distribution process ofa contents server in the contents distribution system of the thirdembodiment of the invention;

[0070]FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a preview moving image datadistribution process of the contents server in the contents distributionsystem of the third embodiment of the invention;

[0071]FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an original image data distributionprocess of the contents server in the contents distribution system ofthe third embodiment of the invention;

[0072]FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing the constitution of a contentsdistribution system, which is a fourth embodiment of the invention;

[0073]FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a contents registration process ofa contents management server in the contents distribution system of thefourth embodiment of the invention;

[0074]FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a contents distribution process ofa contents server in the contents distribution system of the fourthembodiment of the invention;

[0075]FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a preview moving image datadistribution process of the contents server in the contents distributionsystem of the fourth embodiment of the invention; and

[0076]FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing an original image data distributionprocess of the contents server in the contents distribution system ofthe fourth embodiment of the invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0077] Now referring to the drawings, preferred embodiments of theinvention are described below.

FIRST EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0078] Below, a first embodiment of the invention will be described indetail referring to the drawings.

[0079]FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the constitution of a contentsdistribution system 1, which is the first embodiment of the invention.

[0080] The contents distribution system 1 comprises a contents server 2and a contents display terminal 3. The contents server 2 and thecontents display terminal 3 are connected via a network 4.

[0081] The contents server 2 comprises a contents distribution server22, a contents management server 21, a text database 23, an imagedatabase 24, a contents terminal information storage section 25, and animage converting section 26.

[0082] The contents display terminal 3 is realized by a personalcomputer (PC), a mobile terminal, a mobile phone or the like, andconstituted so as to access the contents server 2 via the network 4 andbe provided with distribution service of contents composed of text dataand image data. Recently, it has become possible to connect to a networksuch as the Internet by a household telephone, a facsimile or the like.Therefore, the contents display terminal can be of any kind as far as itallows connection to the network.

[0083] The contents distribution server 22, in response to adistribution request from the contents display terminal 3, obtainscontents designated by the contents management server 21 and distributesthe contents to the contents display terminal 3.

[0084] The contents management server 21 manages registered contents,and when the contents distribution server 22 request contents, providesthe designated contents to the contents distribution server 22.

[0085] The text database 23 and the image database 24 are contentsstoring means, and store text data 231 and image data 241 such as stillimage data of registered contents, respectively.

[0086] The contents display terminal information storage section 25 isterminal information storing means that stores the font size of textdata displayed by a display of the contents display terminal 3 used inthe contents distribution system 1 and the size of the display asterminal information.

[0087] The image converting section 26 is image converting means thathas an image converting function. When image data of contents isregistered in the contents management server 21 and stored in the imagedatabase 24, the image converting section 26, by the image convertingfunction, obtains the font size and the display size stored in thecontents display terminal information storage section 25 and generatesimage letter data 242 made by converting the original image data 241 toalmost the same size, preferably, the same size as the font size.Besides, the image converting section 26, by the image convertingfunction, generates preview image data 243 made by converting theoriginal image data 241 to almost the same size, preferably, the samesize as the display size of the contents display terminal 3.

[0088] The contents management server 21 stores the image letter data242 and the preview image data 243 generated by the image convertingsection 26 together with the original image data 241 into the imagedatabase 24. In a case where the contents display terminal informationstorage section 25 stores a plurality of terminal information, the imageconverting section 26 generates image letter data and preview image dataregarding the respective terminal information, and the contentsmanagement server 21 stores the generated plural image letter data andpreview image data into the image database 24.

[0089] On request of contents distribution from the contents displayterminal 3 to the contents server 2, the contents server 2 couples thetext data 231 and the image letter data 242, and distributes the coupleddata to the contents display terminal 3.

[0090] On this occasion, as shown in a contents display example of theembodiment of the invention of FIG. 2, the image letter data 242 of acontents page 30 displayed on the display is almost the same size,preferably, the same size as the font size of the contents displayterminal 3. Therefore, the image letter data 242 is dealt with as oneletter of the text data 231, and the need for adjusting the linefeedposition of the text data 231 or the like and laying out image data andtext data is eliminated. This is particularly effective, for example, ina case where the display of the contents display terminal 3 is small, orin a case where image data is large as compared with the size of thedisplay.

[0091] Further, when distribution of the preview image data 243 isrequested from the contents display terminal 3 to the contents server 2,the contents server 2 distributes the preview image data 243 to thecontents display terminal 3. At this moment, in a contents page 31displayed on the display, only the preview image data 243 is displayed.The preview image data 243 is generated in an image format that can bedisplayed in the contents display terminal 3, the whole image data isdisplayed in an appropriate size for the display, and it becomes easierto check the whole image data. It is also possible, after checking thewhole image, to download the original image data 241. When distributionof the original image data 241 is requested from the contents displayterminal 3 to the contents server 2, the contents server 2 distributesthe original image data 241 to the contents display terminal 3, and theimage data 241 can be displayed when it can be displayed on the displayof the contents display terminal 3. In such a case that an image formatis not compatible, it is possible also to store into image data storingmeans 27 of the contents display terminal 3 and output from anappropriate output apparatus as necessary.

[0092] Therefore, by the contents distribution system 1 of the firstembodiment of the invention, it is possible to distribute contentscomposed of text data and image data as a contents page composed of textdata and image letter data that does not need a manual layout operation,firstly. Moreover, in the case of checking the content of image data, itis possible to distribute preview image data. Consequently, a user candownload original image data after checking the content of image data,that is, it becomes possible to browse and obtain contents in aneffective way.

[0093] Image letter data of the embodiment of the invention also has afeature of a pictograph that has a larger amount of information thantext data made of only letters. Although a pictograph is hard to begenerated automatically and is generated manually in usual, image letterdata according to the invention can be automatically generated and has alarger amount of information than a pictograph.

[0094]FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a contents registration process ofthe contents management server 21 in the contents distribution system 1of the first embodiment of the invention. When a registration eventarises, for example, when contents are uploaded, the contentsregistration process is started at step s10. At step s11, the contentsmanagement server 21 determines whether contents to be registeredinclude text data. In the case of determination that the contents do notinclude text data, the process goes to step s13. In the case ofdetermination that the contents include text data, the process goes tostep s12, the contents management server 21 stores the text data 231into the text database 23, and the process goes to step s13. At steps13, the contents management server 21 determines whether the contentsto be registered include image data. In the case of determination thatthe contents include image data, the process goes to step s14. In thecase of determination that the contents do not include image data, theprocess goes to step s19, and the contents registration process isended.

[0095] At step s14, the contents management server 21 stores theoriginal image data 241 into the image database 24. At step s15, thecontents management server 21 obtains the display size and the font sizeas terminal information from the contents display terminal informationstorage section 25. At step s16, based on the obtained terminalinformation, the contents management server 21 causes the imageconverting section 26 to generate, from the image data 241, the imageletter data 242 converted to the font size and the preview image data243 converted to the display size. At step s17, the contents managementserver 21 stores the image letter data and the preview image datagenerated at step s16 into the image database 24. After that, at steps18, the contents management server 21 determines whether terminalinformation on another contents display terminal is registered in thecontents display terminal information storage section 25. In the case ofdetermination that terminal information on another contents displayterminal is registered, the process goes back to step s15 to berepeated. In the case of determination that terminal information onanother contents display terminal is not registered, the process goes tostep s19, and the contents registration process is ended.

[0096]FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a contents distribution process ofthe contents server 2 in the contents distribution system 1 of the firstembodiment of the invention. When an event of a contents distributionrequest from the contents display terminal 3 to the contents server 2arises, the contents distribution process is started at step s20. Atstep s21, the contents distribution server 22 obtains the classificationof the contents display terminal 3 from a user agent property or thelike included in a contents distribution request signal. At step s22,the contents distribution server 22 inquires of the contents managementserver 21 whether contents requested by the contents display terminal 3to be distributed include image data. In a case where the contentsinclude image data, at step s23, the contents management server 21obtains terminal information corresponding to the classification of thecontents display terminal 3 from the contents display terminalinformation storage section 25. The contents distribution server 22, viathe contents management server 21, obtains the image letter data 242corresponding to the font size of the terminal information,specifically, of almost the same size, preferably, the same size as thefont size from the image database 24. In a case where the contents donot include image data, the process goes to step s24.

[0097] At step s24, the contents distribution server 22 inquires of thecontents management server 21 whether the contents requested by thecontents display terminal 3 to be distributed include text data. In acase where the contents include text data, at step s25, the contentsdistribution server 22 obtains the text data 231 of the contents fromthe text database 23 via the contents management server 21. In a casewhere the contents do not include text data, the process goes to steps26.

[0098] At step s26, the contents distribution server 22 couples theobtained image letter data 242 and text data 231, and generates acontents page. Although various coupling methods, for example, couplingthe text data 231 to the image letter data 242, or coupling the imageletter data 242 to the text data 231 can be thought as a coupling methodon this occasion, this is set as a contents page generation rule inadvance. It is needless to say that in a case where one of the imageletter data 242 and the text data 231 does not exist, the contentsdistribution server 22 generates a page of only the existing data. In acase where either of the data does not exist, the contents distributionserver 22 generates an exception page for a case where contents do notexist. At step s27, the contents distribution server 22 distributes thecontents page generated at step s26 to the contents display terminal 3.After that, the process goes to step s28, and the contents distributionprocess is ended.

[0099]FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a preview image data distributionprocess of the contents server 2 in the contents distribution system 1of the first embodiment of the invention. When an event of a previewimage data distribution request from the contents display terminal 3 tothe contents server 2 arises, at step s30, the preview image datadistribution process is started. At step s31, the contents distributionserver 22 obtains the classification of the contents display terminal 3from a user agent property or the like included in a contentsdistribution request signal.

[0100] At step s32, the contents distribution server 22 inquires of thecontents management server 21 whether contents requested by the contentsdisplay terminal 3 to be distributed include image data. In a case wherethe contents include image data, at step s33, the contents managementserver 21 obtains terminal information corresponding to theclassification of the contents display terminal 3 from the contentsdisplay terminal information storage section 25. The contentsdistribution server 22, via the contents management server 21, obtainsthe preview image data 243 corresponding to the display size of theterminal information, specifically, of almost the same size, preferably,the same size as the display size from the image database 24. In a casewhere the contents do not include image data, the process goes to steps34.

[0101] At step s34, the contents distribution server 22 generates apreview image page by using the obtained preview image data 243. In acase where image data does not exist in the contents, the contentsdistribution server 22 generates an exception page. At step s35, thecontents distribution server 22 distributes the preview image pagegenerated at step s34 to the contents display terminal 3. After that,the process goes to step s36, and the preview image data distributionprocess is ended.

[0102]FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an original image data distributionprocess of the contents server 2 in the contents distribution system 1of the first embodiment of the invention. When an event of an originalimage data distribution request from the contents display terminal 3 tothe contents server 2 arises, at step s40, the original image datadistribution process is started. At step s41, the contents distributionserver 21 obtains the classification of the contents display terminal 3from a user agent property or the like included in a contentsdistribution request signal.

[0103] At step s42, the contents distribution server 22 inquires of thecontents management server 21 whether contents requested by the contentsdisplay terminal 3 to be distributed include image data. In a case wherethe contents include image data, at step s43, the contents distributionserver 22 obtains the original image data 241 from the image database 24via the contents management server 21. In a case where the contents donot include image data, the process goes to step s45.

[0104] At step s44, the contents distribution server 22 determineswhether the obtained original image data 241 is image data that can bedisplayed by the contents display terminal 3 when distributed as animage data page. In the case of determination that it cannot bedisplayed and cannot be distributed as an image data page (for example,image data of a G3 type facsimile), the process goes to step s47, andthe contents distribution server 22 distributes original image data tothe contents display terminal 3 by, for example, a distribution protocolthat is suitable for distribution of image data. After that, the processgoes to step s48, and the original image data distribution process isended. In the case of determination that it can be displayed and can bedistributed as an image data page, the process goes to step s45, and thecontents distribution server 22 generates an original image data page.In a case where image data does not exist in the contents, the contentsdistribution server 22 generates an exception page.

[0105] At step s46, the contents distribution server 22 distributes theoriginal image data page generated at step s45 to the contents displayterminal 3. After that, the process goes to step s48, and the originalimage data distribution process is ended.

SECOND EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0106] In the first embodiment of the invention, assuming a case wherethe font size used on the display of the contents display terminal 3 isuniquely determined, the font size used in the contents display terminal3 is stored in the contents display terminal information storagesection, and image data is converted to the font size by the use of thatvalue.

[0107] In a second embodiment of the invention, every time the contentsdisplay terminal requests the contents server to distribute contents,the contents display terminal designates the font size to be used andrequests distribution of contents, or designates the display size of thecontents display terminal and requests distribution of contents. Thecontents server converts the size of an image in response to therequest, and distributes contents to the contents display terminal.Therefore, in the second embodiment of the invention, the contentsdisplay terminal information storage section that is necessary in thefirst embodiment is unnecessary.

[0108] Below, the second embodiment of the invention will be describedin detail referring to the drawings.

[0109]FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the constitution of a contentsdistribution system as the second embodiment of the invention, which isa constitution that the contents terminal information storage section 25is eliminated from the constitution of the contents distribution systemof the first embodiment of FIG. 1.

[0110] A contents distribution system 5 comprises a contents server 6and a contents display terminal 7. The contents server 6 and thecontents display terminal 7 are connected via a network 8.

[0111] The contents server 6 comprises a contents distribution server62, a contents management server 61, a text database 63, an imagedatabase 64, and an image converting section 66.

[0112] The contents display terminal 7 is realized by a personalcomputer (PC), a mobile terminal, a mobile phone or the like, andconstituted so as to access the contents server 6 via the network 8 andbe provided with distribution service of contents composed of text dataand image data. Recently, it has become possible to connect to a networksuch as the Internet by a household telephone, a facsimile or the like.Therefore, the contents display terminal can be of any kind as far as itallows connection to the network.

[0113] The contents distribution server 62, in response to adistribution request from the contents display terminal 7, obtainscontents designated by the contents management server 61, anddistributes the contents to the contents display terminal 7.

[0114] The contents management server 61 manages registered contents,and when the contents distribution server 62 requests contents, providesthe designated contents to the contents distribution server 62.

[0115] The text database 63 and the image database 64 are contentsstoring means, and store text data 631 and image data 641 such as stillimage data of registered contents, respectively.

[0116] The image converting section 66 is image converting means thathas an image converting function. When the font size used in thecontents display terminal 7, the display size and the like that aredesignated when the contents display terminal 7 requests distribution ofcontents are designated by the contents management server 61, the imageconverting section 66, by the image converting function, converts theimage data 641 of the requested contents, and generates image letterdata, preview image data and the like of almost the same size,preferably, the same size as the font size.

[0117] When the contents display terminal 7 requests the contents server6 to distribute contents, the contents distribution server 62 designatesthe contents and font size designated by the contents display terminal 7to the contents management server 61, and requests the contents.

[0118] The contents management server 61 obtains the image data 641 ofthe designated contents from the image database, causes the imageconverting section 66 to convert the image data 641 based on thedesignated font size and generate image letter data of almost the samesize, preferably, the same size as the font size, and returns to thecontents distribution server 62 together with the text data 631 obtainedfrom the text database 24.

[0119] The contents distribution server 62 couples the text data 631 andthe image letter data 642 of almost the same size, preferably, the samesize as the font size obtained from the contents management server 61,and distributes the coupled data to the contents display terminal 7.

[0120]FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing a contents registration process ofthe contents management server 61 in the contents distribution system 5of the second embodiment of the invention.

[0121] When a registration event arises, for example, when contents areuploaded, the contents registration process is started at step s50.

[0122] At step s51, the contents management server 61 determines whethercontents to be registered include text data. In the case ofdetermination that the contents do not include text data, the processgoes to step s53. In the case of determination that the contents includetext data, the process goes to step s52, the text data 631 is storedinto the text database 63, and the process goes to step s53.

[0123] At step s53, the contents management server 61 determines whetherthe contents to be registered include image data. In the case ofdetermination that the contents include image data, the process goes tostep s54, and the contents management server 61 stores the image data641 into the image database 64. After that, the process goes to steps55, and the contents registration process is ended. In the case ofdetermination that the contents do not include image data, the processgoes to step s55, and the contents registration process is ended.

[0124]FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a contents distribution process ofthe contents server 6 in the contents distribution system 5 of thesecond embodiment of the invention.

[0125] When an event of a contents distribution request from thecontents display terminal 7 to the contents server 6 arises, thecontents distribution process is started at step s60.

[0126] At step s61, the contents distribution server 62 obtains the fontsize used in the contents display terminal 7 included in a contentsdistribution request signal.

[0127] At step s62, the contents distribution server 62 inquires of thecontents management server 61 whether contents requested by the contentsdisplay terminal 7 to be distributed include image data. In a case wherethe contents include image data, at step s63, the contents managementserver 61 obtains the image data 641 from the image database 64, andcauses the image converting section 66 to convert the image data 641 toalmost the same size, preferably, the same size as the designated fontsize and generate image letter data. In a case where the contents do notinclude image data, the process goes to step s65.

[0128] At step s65, the contents distribution server 62 inquires of thecontents management server 61 whether the contents requested by thecontents display terminal 7 to be distributed include text data. In acase where the contents include text data, at step s66, the contentsdistribution server 62 obtains the text data 631 of the contents fromthe text database 63 via the contents management server 61. In a casewhere the contents do not include text data, the process goes to steps67.

[0129] At step s67, the contents distribution server 62 couples thegenerated image letter data and text data 631 and generates a contentspage. Although various coupling methods, for example, coupling the textdata 631 to the image letter data, or coupling the image letter data tothe text data 631 can be thought as a coupling method on this occasion,this is set as a contents page generation rule in advance. It isneedless to say that in a case where one of the image letter data andtext data 631 does not exist, the contents distribution server 62generates a page of only the existing data. In a case where either ofthe data does not exist, the contents distribution server 62 generatesan exception page for a case where contents do not exist.

[0130] At step s68, the contents distribution server 62 distributes thecontents page generated at step s67 to the contents display terminal 7.After that, the process goes to step s69, and the contents distributionprocess is ended.

[0131]FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a preview image data distributionprocess of the contents server 6 in the contents distribution system 5of the second embodiment of the invention.

[0132] When an event of a preview image data distribution request fromthe contents display terminal 7 to the contents server 6 arises, at steps70, the preview image data distribution process is started.

[0133] At step s71, the contents distribution server 61 obtains thedisplay size of the contents display terminal 7 included in a contentsdistribution request signal.

[0134] At step s72, the contents distribution server 62 inquires of thecontents management server 61 whether contents requested by the contentsdisplay terminal 7 to be distributed include image data. In a case wherethe contents include image data, the contents management server 61obtains the image data 641 from the image database 64 at step s73,causes the image converting section 66 to generate preview image datacorresponding to the display size, specifically, of almost the samesize, preferably, the same size as the display size at step s74, and theprocess goes to step s75. In a case where the contents do not includeimage data, the process goes to step s75.

[0135] At step s75, the contents distribution server 62 generates apreview image page by using the generated preview image data. In a casewhere image data does not exist in the contents, the contentsdistribution server 62 generates an exception page. At step s76, thecontents distribution server 62 distributes the preview image pagegenerated at step s75 to the contents display terminal 7. After that,the process goes to step s77, and the preview image data distributionprocess is ended.

[0136]FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an original image data distributionprocess of the contents server 6 in the contents distribution system 5of the second embodiment of the invention.

[0137] When an event of an original image data distribution request fromthe contents display terminal 7 to the contents server 6 arises, at steps80, the original image data distribution process is started.

[0138] At step s81, the contents distribution server 61 obtains theclassification of the contents display terminal 7 from a user agentproperty or the like included in a contents distribution request signal.

[0139] At step s82, the contents distribution server 62 inquires of thecontents management server 61 whether contents requested by the contentsdisplay terminal 7 to be distributed include image data. In a case wherethe contents include image data, at step s83, the contents distributionserver 62 obtains the original image data 641 from the image database 64via the contents management server 61. In a case where the contents donot include image data, the process goes to step s85.

[0140] At step s84, the contents distribution server 62 determineswhether the obtained original image data 641 is image data that can bedisplayed in the contents display terminal 7 when distributed as animage data page.

[0141] In the case of determination that it cannot be displayed andcannot be distributed as an image data page (for example, image data ofa G3 type facsimile), the process goes to step s87, and the contentsdistribution server 62 distributes the original image data 641 to thecontents display terminal 7 by, for example, a distribution protocolthat is suitable for distribution of image data. After that, the processgoes to step s88, and the original image data distribution process isended.

[0142] In the case of determination that it can be displayed and can bedistributed as an image data page, the process goes to step s85, and thecontents distribution server 62 generates an original image data page.In a case where image data does not exist in the contents, the contentsdistribution server 62 generates an exception page.

[0143] At step s86, the contents distribution server 62 distributes theoriginal image data page generated at step s85 to the contents displayterminal 7. After that, the process goes to step s88, and the originalimage data distribution process is ended.

THIRD EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0144] A third embodiment of the invention shows a case where the imagedata in the first embodiment of the invention is moving image data.Below, the third embodiment of the invention will be described in detailreferring to the drawings.

[0145]FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing the constitution of a contentsdistribution system 9, which is the third embodiment of the invention.

[0146] The contents distribution system 9 comprises a contents server 10and a contents display terminal 11. The contents server 10 and thecontents display terminal 11 are connected via a network 12. Thecontents server 10 comprises a contents distribution server 102, acontents management server 101, a text database 103, an image database104, a contents display terminal information storage section 105, and animage converting section 106.

[0147] The contents display terminal 11 is realized by a personalcomputer (PC), a mobile terminal, a mobile phone or the like, andconstituted so as to access the contents server 10 via the network 12and be provided with distribution service of contents composed of textdata and moving image data. Recently, it has become possible to connectto a network such as the Internet by a household telephone, a facsimileor the like. Therefore, the contents display terminal can be of any kindas far as it allows connection to the network.

[0148] The contents distribution server 102, in response to adistribution request from the contents display terminal 11, obtainscontents designated by the contents management server 101 anddistributes the contents to the contents display terminal 11. Thecontents management server 101 manages registered contents, and when thecontents distribution server 102 requests contents, provides thedesignated contents to the contents distribution server 102.

[0149] The text database 103 and the image database 104 are contentsstoring means, and store text data 1031 and moving image data 1041 asimage data of the registered contents, respectively. The contentsdisplay terminal information storage section 105 is terminal informationstoring means that stores the font size of text data displayed by adisplay of the contents display terminal 11 used in the contentsdistribution system 9 and the size of the display as terminalinformation.

[0150] The image converting section 106 is image converting means thathas an image converting function. The image converting section 106, bythe image converting function, when moving image data of contents isregistered in the contents management server 101 and stored in the imagedatabase 104, obtains the font size and the display size stored in thecontents display terminal information storage section 105, and generatesmoving image data 1042 of a letter size as image letter data made byconverting the original moving image data 1041 to almost the same size,preferably, the same size as the font size. Besides, the imageconverting section 106, by the image converting function, generatespreview moving image data 1043 as preview image data made by convertingthe original moving image data 1041 to almost the same size, preferably,the same size as the display size.

[0151] The contents management server 101 stores the moving image data1042 of a letter size and the preview moving image data 1043 generatedby the image converting section 106 together with the original movingimage data 1041 into the image database 104. In a case where thecontents display terminal information storage section 105 stores aplurality of terminal information, the image converting section 106generates moving image data of a letter size and preview moving imagedata regarding the respective terminal information. Moreover, thecontents management server 101 stores the generated plural moving imagedata of a letter size and preview moving image data into the imagedatabase 104.

[0152] When contents distribution is requested from the contents displayterminal 11 to the contents server 10, the contents server 10 couplesthe text data 1031 and the moving image data 1042 of a letter size, anddistributes the coupled data to the contents display terminal 11.

[0153] On this occasion, as shown in the contents display example of theembodiment of the invention of FIG. 2, the moving image data of a lettersize of the contents page displayed on the display is almost the samesize, preferably, the same size as the font size of the contents displayterminal 11. Therefore, the moving image data 1042 of a letter size isdealt with as one letter of the text data 1031, and the need foradjusting the linefeed position of text data or the like and laying outmoving image data and text data is eliminated. This is particularlyeffective, for example, in a case where the display of the contentsdisplay terminal 11 is small, or in a case where moving image data islarge as compared with the size of the display.

[0154] Further, when distribution of the preview moving image data 1043is requested from the contents display terminal 11 to the contentsserver 10, the contents server 10 distributes the preview moving imagedata 1043 to the contents display terminal 11. At this moment, in acontents page displayed on the display, only the preview moving imagedata 1043 is displayed. The preview moving image data is generated in animage format that can be displayed in the contents display terminal 11,the whole moving image data is displayed in a suitable size for thedisplay, and it becomes easier to check the whole moving image data. Itis also possible, after checking the whole image, to download theoriginal moving image data. When distribution of the original movingimage data is requested from the contents display terminal 11 to thecontents server 10, the contents server 10 distributes the originalmoving image data 1041 to the contents display terminal 11, and themoving image data can be displayed when it can be displayed on thedisplay of the contents display terminal 11. In such a case that theimage formats are incompatible, it is also possible to store into imagedata storing means 107 of the contents display terminal 11 and outputfrom an appropriate output apparatus as necessary.

[0155] Therefore, by the contents distribution system 9 of the thirdembodiment of the invention, it is possible to distribute contentscomposed of text data and moving image data as a contents page composedof text data and moving image data of a letter size that does not need amanual layout operation, firstly. Moreover, in the case of checking thecontent of moving image data, it is possible to distribute previewmoving image data. Consequently, a user can download original movingimage data after checking the content of moving image data, that is, itbecomes possible to browse and obtain contents in an effective way.

[0156]FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a contents registration process ofthe contents management server 101 in the contents distribution system 9of the third embodiment of the invention. When a registration eventarises, for example, when contents are uploaded, the contentsregistration process is started at step s90. At step s91, the contentsmanagement server 101 determines whether contents to be registeredinclude text data. In the case of determination that the contents do notinclude text data, the process goes to step s93. In the case ofdetermination that the contents include text data, the process goes tostep s92, the contents management server 101 stores the text data 1031into the text database 103, and the process goes to step s93. At steps93, the contents management server 101 determines whether the contentsto be registered include moving image data. In the case of determinationthat the contents include moving image data, the process goes to steps94. In the case of determination that the contents do not includemoving image data, the process goes to step s99, and the contentsregistration process is ended.

[0157] At step s94, the contents management server 101 stores theoriginal moving image data 1041 into the image database 104. At steps95, the contents management server 101 obtains the display size and thefont size as terminal information from the contents display terminalinformation storage section 105. At step s96, the contents managementserver 101, based on the obtained terminal information, causes the imageconverting section 106 to generate the moving image data 1042 of aletter size converted to the font size and the preview moving image data1043 converted to the display size from the moving image data. At steps97, the contents management server 101 stores the moving image data ofa letter size and the preview moving image data generated at step s96into the image database 104. After that, at step s98, the contentsmanagement server 101 determines whether terminal information on anothercontents display terminal is registered in the contents display terminalinformation storage section 105. In the case of determination thatterminal information on another contents display terminal is registered,the process goes back to s95 to be repeated. In the case ofdetermination that terminal information on another contents displayterminal is not registered, the process goes to step s99, and thecontents registration process is ended.

[0158]FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a contents distribution process ofthe contents server 10 in the contents distribution system 9 of thethird embodiment of the invention. When an event of a contentsdistribution request from the contents display terminal 11 to thecontents server 10 arises, the contents distribution process is startedat step s100. At step s101, the contents distribution server 102 obtainsthe classification of the contents display terminal 11 from a user agentproperty or the like included in a contents distribution request signal.At step s102, the contents distribution server 102 inquires of thecontents management server 101 whether contents requested by thecontents display terminal 11 to be distributed include moving imagedata. In a case where the contents include moving image data, at steps103, the contents management server 101 obtains terminal informationcorresponding to the classification of the contents display terminal 11from the contents display terminal information storage section 105. Thecontents distribution server 102 obtains the moving image data 1042corresponding to the font size of the terminal information,specifically, of almost the same size, preferably, the same size as thefont size from the image database 104 via the contents management server101. In a case where the contents do not include moving image data, theprocess goes to step s104.

[0159] At step s104, the contents distribution server 102 inquires ofthe contents management server 101 whether the contents request by thecontents display terminal 11 to be distributed include text data. In acase where the contents include text data, at step s105, the contentsdistribution server 102 obtains the text data 1031 of the contents fromthe text database 103 via the contents management server 101. In a casewhere the contents do not include text data, the process goes to steps106.

[0160] At step s106, the contents distribution server 102 couples theobtained moving image data 1042 of a letter size and text data 1031, andgenerates a contents page. Although various coupling methods, forexample, coupling the text data 1031 to the moving image data 1042 of aletter size, or coupling the moving image data 1042 of a letter size tothe text data 1031 can be thought as a coupling method on this occasion,this is set as a contents page generation rule in advance. It isneedless to say that in a case where one of the moving image data 1042of a letter size and the text data 1031 does not exist, the contentsdistribution server 102 generates a page of only the existing data. In acase where either of the data does not exist, the contents distributionserver 102 generates an exception page for a case where contents do notexist. At step s107, the contents distribution server 102 distributesthe contents page generated at step s106 to the contents displayterminal 11. After that, the process goes to step s108, and the contentsdistribution process is ended.

[0161]FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a preview moving image datadistribution process of the contents server 10 in the contentsdistribution system 9 of the third embodiment of the invention. When anevent of a preview moving image data distribution request from thecontents display terminal 11 to the contents server 10 arises, at steps110, the preview moving image data distribution process is started. Atstep s111, the contents distribution server 101 obtains theclassification of the contents display terminal 11 from a user agentproperty or the like included in a contents distribution request signal.

[0162] At step s112, the contents distribution server 102 inquires ofthe contents management server 101 whether contents requested by thecontents display terminal 11 to be distributed include moving imagedata. In a case where the contents include moving image data, at steps113, the contents management server 101 obtains terminal informationcorresponding to the classification of the contents display terminal 11from the contents display terminal information storage section 105. Thecontents distribution server 102 obtains the preview moving image data1043 corresponding to the display size of the terminal information,specifically, of almost the same size, preferably, the same size as thedisplay size from the image database 104 via the contents managementserver 101. In a case where the contents do not include moving imagedata, the process goes to step s114.

[0163] At step s114, the contents distribution server 102 generates apreview moving image page by using the obtained preview moving imagedata 1043. In a case where moving image data does not exist in thecontents, the contents distribution server 102 generates an exceptionpage. At step s115, the contents distribution server 102 distributes thepreview moving image page generated at step s114 to the contents displayterminal 11. After that, the process goes to step s116, and the previewmoving image data distribution process is ended.

[0164]FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing an original moving image datadistribution process of the contents server 10 in the contentsdistribution system 9 of the third embodiment of the invention. When anevent of an original moving image data distribution request from thecontents display terminal 11 to the contents server 10 arises, at steps120, the original moving image data distribution process is started. Atstep s121, the contents distribution server 101 obtains theclassification of the contents display terminal 11 from a user agentproperty or the like included in a contents distribution request signal.

[0165] At step s122, the contents distribution server 102 inquires ofthe contents management server 101 whether contents requested by thecontents display terminal 11 to be distributed include moving imagedata. In a case where the contents include moving image data, at steps123, the contents distribution server 102 obtains the original movingimage data 1041 from the image database 104 via the contents managementserver 101. In a case where the contents do not include moving imagedata, the process goes to step s125.

[0166] At step s124, the contents distribution server 102 determineswhether the obtained original moving image data 1041 is moving imagedata that can be displayed in the contents display terminal 11 whendistributed as an original moving image data page. In the case ofdetermination that it cannot be displayed and cannot be distributed asan original moving image data page, the process goes to step s127, andthe contents distribution server 102 distributes the original movingimage data 1041 to the contents display terminal 11, for example, by adistribution protocol that is suitable for distribution of moving imagedata. After that, the process goes to step s128, and the original movingimage data distribution process is ended. In the case of determinationthat it can be displayed and can be distributed as an original movingimage data page, the process goes to step s125, and the contentsdistribution server 102 generates an original moving image data page. Ina case where moving image data does not exist in the contents, thecontents distribution server 102 generates an exception page.

[0167] At step s126, the contents distribution server 102 distributesthe original moving image data page generated at step s125 to thecontents display terminal 11. After that, the process goes to step s128,and the original moving image data distribution process is ended.

FOURTH EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0168] A fourth embodiment of the invention shows a case where the imagedata in the second embodiment of the invention is moving image data.Below, the fourth embodiment of the invention will be described indetail referring to the drawings.

[0169]FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing the constitution of a contentsdistribution system as the fourth embodiment of the invention. Acontents distribution system 13 comprises a contents server 14 and acontents display terminal 15. The contents server 14 and the contentsdisplay terminal 15 are connected via a network 16. The contents server14 comprises a contents distribution server 142, a contents managementserver 141, a text database 143, an image database 144, and an imageconverting section 146.

[0170] The contents display terminal 15 is realized by a personalcomputer (PC), a mobile terminal, a mobile phone or the like, andconstituted so as to access the contents server 14 via the network 16and be provided with distribution service of contents composed of textdata and moving image data. Recently, it has become possible to connectto a network such as the Internet by a household telephone, a facsimileor the like. Therefore, the contents display terminal can be of any kindas far as it allows connection to the network.

[0171] The contents distribution server 142, in response to adistribution request from the contents display terminal 15, obtainscontents designated by the contents management server 141 anddistributes the contents to the contents display terminal 15.

[0172] The contents management server 141 manages registered contents,and when the contents distribution server 142 requests contents,provides the designated contents to the contents distribution server142.

[0173] The text database 143 and the image database 144 are contentsstoring means, and store text data 1431 and moving image data 1441 asimage data of the registered contents, respectively.

[0174] The image converting section 146 is image converting means thathas an image converting function. When the font size, display size andthe like used in the contents display terminal 15 that are designatedwhen the contents display terminal 15 requests distribution of contentsare designated by the contents management server 141, the imageconverting section 146 converts moving image data 1441 of the requestedcontents to generate moving image data, preview moving image data andthe like of almost the same size, preferably, the same size as a lettersize.

[0175] When the contents display terminal 15 requests the contentsserver 14 to distribute contents, the contents distribution server 142designates the contents and font size designated by the contents displayterminal 15 to the contents management server 141, and requests thecontents.

[0176] The contents management server 141 obtains the moving image data1441 of the designated contents from the image database 144, causes theimage converting section 146 to convert the moving image data 1441 basedon the designated font size and generate moving image data of almost thesame size, preferably, the same size as a letter size, and returns tothe contents distribution server 142 together with text data 1431obtained from the text database 143.

[0177] The contents distribution server 142 couples the text data 1431and the moving image data of almost the same size, preferably, the samesize as a letter size obtained from the contents management server 141,and distributes the coupled data to the contents display terminal 15.

[0178]FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing a contents registration process ofthe contents management server 141 in the contents distribution system13 of the fourth embodiment of the invention.

[0179] When a registration event arises, for example, when contents areuploaded, the contents registration process is started at step s130.

[0180] At step s131, the contents management server 141 determineswhether contents to be registered include text data. In the case ofdetermination that the contents do not include text data, the processgoes to step s133. In the case of determination that the contentsinclude text data, the process goes to step s132, the contentsmanagement server 141 stores the text data 143 into the text database143, and the process goes to step s133.

[0181] At step s133, the contents management server 141 determineswhether the contents to be registered include moving image data. In thecase of determination that the contents include moving image data, theprocess goes to step s134, and the contents management server 141 storesthe moving image data 1441 into the image database 144. After that, theprocess goes to step s135, and the contents registration process isended. In the case of determination that the contents do not includemoving image data, the process goes to step s135, and the contentsregistration process is ended.

[0182]FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a contents distribution process ofthe contents server 14 in the contents distribution system 13 of thefourth embodiment of the invention.

[0183] When an event of a contents distribution request from thecontents display terminal 15 to the contents server 14 arises, thecontents distribution process is started at step s140.

[0184] At step s141, the contents distribution server 142 obtains thefont size used in the contents display terminal 15 included in acontents distribution request signal.

[0185] At step s142, the contents distribution server 142 inquires ofthe contents management server 141 whether contents requested by thecontents display terminal 15 to be distributed include moving imagedata. In a case where the contents include moving image data, at steps143, the contents management server 141 obtains the moving image data1441 from the image database 144, and causes the image convertingsection 146 to convert the moving image data 1441 to almost the samesize, preferably, the same size as the designated font size and generatemoving image data of a letter size. In a case where the contents do notinclude moving image data, the process goes to step s145.

[0186] At step s145, the contents distribution server 142 inquires ofthe contents management server 141 whether the contents requested by thecontents display terminal 15 to be distributed include text data. In acase where the contents include text data, at step s146, the contentsdistribution server 142 obtains the text data 1431 of the contents fromthe text database 143 via the contents management server 141. In a casewhere the contents do not include text data, the process goes to steps147.

[0187] At step s147, the contents distribution server 142 couples thegenerated moving image data of a letter size and text data 1431, andgenerates a contents page. Although various coupling methods, forexample, coupling the text data 1431 to the moving image data of aletter size, or coupling the moving image data of a letter size to thetext data 1431 can be thought as a coupling method on this occasion,this is set as a contents page generation rule in advance. It isneedless to say that in a case where one of the moving image data of aletter size and the text data does not exist, the contents distributionserver 142 generates a page of only the existing data. In a case whereeither of the data does not exist, the contents distribution server 142generates an exception page for a case where contents do not exist.

[0188] At step s148, the contents distribution server 142 distributesthe contents page generated at step s147 to the contents displayterminal 15. After that, the process goes to step s149, and the contentsdistribution process is ended.

[0189]FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a preview moving image datadistribution process of the contents server 14 in the contentsdistribution system 13 of the fourth embodiment of the invention.

[0190] When an event of a preview moving image data distribution requestfrom the contents display terminal 15 to the contents server 14 arises,at step s15O, the preview moving image data distribution process isstarted.

[0191] At step s151, the contents distribution server 141 obtains thedisplay size of the contents display terminal 15 included in a contentsdistribution request signal.

[0192] At step s152, the contents distribution server 142 inquires ofthe contents management server 141 whether contents requested by thecontents display terminal 15 to be distributed include moving imagedata. In a case where the contents include moving image data, thecontents management server 141 obtains the moving image data 1441 fromthe image database 144 at step s153, causes the image converting section146 to generate preview moving image data corresponding to the displaysize, specifically, of almost the same size, preferably, the same sizeas the display size at step s154, and the process goes to step s155. Ina case where the contents do not include moving image data, the processgoes to step s155.

[0193] At step s155, the contents distribution server 142 generates apreview image page by using the generated preview moving image data. Ina case where moving image data does not exist in the contents, thecontents distribution server 142 generates an exception page. At steps156, the contents distribution server 142 distributes the preview imagepage generated at step s155 to the contents display terminal 15. Afterthat, the process goes to step s157, and the preview moving image datadistribution process is ended.

[0194]FIG. 22 is a flowchart showing an original moving image datadistribution process of the contents server 14 in the contentsdistribution system 13 of the fourth embodiment of the invention.

[0195] When an event of an original moving image data distributionrequest from the contents display terminal 15 to the contents server 14arises, at step s160, the original moving image data distributionprocess is started.

[0196] At step s161, the contents distribution server 141 obtains theclassification of the contents display terminal 15 from a user agentproperty or the like included in a contents distribution request signal.

[0197] At step s162, the contents distribution server 142 inquires ofthe contents management server 141 whether contents requested by thecontents display terminal 15 to be distributed include moving imagedata. In a case where the contents include moving image data, at steps163, the contents distribution server 142 obtains the original movingimage data 1441 from the image database 143 via the contents managementserver 141. In a case where the contents do not include moving imagedata, the process goes to step s165.

[0198] At step s164, the contents distribution server 142 determineswhether the obtained original moving image data 1441 is moving imagedata that can be displayed in the contents display terminal 15 whendistributed as an original moving image data page.

[0199] In the case of determination that it cannot be displayed andcannot be distributed as a moving image data page, the process goes tostep s167, and the contents distribution server 142 distributes theoriginal moving image data 1441 to the contents display terminal 15, forexample, by a distribution protocol that is suitable for distribution ofmoving image data. After that, the process goes to step s168, and theoriginal moving image data distribution process is ended. In the case ofdetermination that it can be displayed and can be distributed as anoriginal moving image data page, the process goes to step s165, and thecontents distribution server 142 generates an original moving image datapage. In a case where moving image data does not exist in the contents,the contents distribution server 142 generates an exception page.

[0200] At step s166, the contents distribution server 142 distributesthe original moving image data page generated at step s165 to thecontents display terminal 15. After that, the process goes to step s168,and the original moving image data distribution process is ended.

[0201] The invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Thepresent embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription and all changes which come within the meaning and the rangeof equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embracedtherein.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0202] As described above, according to the invention, it is allowed todeal with image data as one letter of text data, it is unnecessary to doa manual layout operation even in a case where image data and text datacoexist, and it is possible to distribute contents that the content ofimage data is easier to understand than a page of only text data ofcontents.

[0203] Further, according to the invention, the whole image data isdisplayed in a suitable size for a display, and a check of the wholeimage data is facilitated.

[0204] Further, according to the invention, it is possible to displayimage data when it can be displayed on a display, and in a case where itcannot be displayed for such a reason that image formats areincompatible, it is possible to output image data stored in the imagedata storing means from an appropriate output apparatus as necessary.

1. A contents distribution system comprising: a contents displayterminal for displaying contents composed of text data and image data ona display; and a contents server for distributing the contents to thecontents display terminal via a network in response to a distributionrequest from the contents display terminal, the contents serverincluding: contents storing means for storing the contents; and imageconverting means having an image converting function of converting theimage data to image letter data of a same size as a font size of thetext data displayed by the display of the contents display terminal,wherein, in response to a contents distribution request from thecontents display terminal, the contents server couples the text data andthe image letter data and distributes the coupled data to the contentsdisplay terminal.
 2. The contents distribution system of claim 1,wherein the image converting means converts the image data of thecontents to preview image data of almost a same size as a display sizeof the contents display terminal; and the contents server distributesthe preview image data to the contents display terminal in response to apreview image data distribution request from the contents displayterminal.
 3. The contents distribution system of claim 1, wherein thecontents server distributes the image data to the contents displayterminal in response to an image data distribution request from thecontent display terminal; and the contents display terminal has imagedata storing means for storing distributed image data, and displays thedistributed image data when it can be displayed on the display.
 4. Thecontents distribution system of claim 2, wherein the contents serverdistributes the image data to the contents display terminal in responseto an image data distribution request from the content display terminal;and the contents display terminal has image data storing means forstoring distributed image data, and displays the distributed image datawhen it can be displayed on the display.
 5. The contents distributionsystem of claim 1, wherein the contents server comprises terminalinformation storing means for storing the font size of the text datadisplayed by the display of the contents display terminal and thedisplay size as terminal information.
 6. The contents distributionsystem of claim 1, wherein the image data is still image data.
 7. Thecontents distribution system of claim 1, wherein the image data ismoving image data.
 8. A contents server for distributing contentscomposed of text data and image data to a contents display terminal viaa network in response to a distribution request from the contentsdisplay terminal, the contents server comprising: contents storing meansfor storing the contents; and image converting means having an imageconverting function of converting the image data to image letter data ofalmost a same size as a font size of text data displayed by the displayof the contents display terminal, wherein, in response to a contentsdistribution request from the contents display terminal, the contentsserver couples the text data and the image letter data and distributesthe coupled data to the contents display terminal.
 9. The contentsserver of claim 8, wherein the image converting means converts the imagedata of the contents to preview image data of almost a same size as adisplay size of the contents display terminal; and in response to apreview image data distribution request from the contents displayterminal, the preview image data is distributed to the contents displayterminal.
 10. The contents server of claim 8, further comprising:terminal information storing means for storing the font size of the textdata displayed by the display of the contents display terminal and thedisplay size as terminal information.
 11. The contents server of claim8, wherein the image data is still image data.
 12. The contents serverof claim 8, wherein the image data is moving image data.
 13. A contentsdistribution method that a contents server comprising image convertingmeans and contents storing means distributes contents composed of textdata and image data via a network in response to a distribution requestfrom a contents display terminal, the contents distribution methodcomprising the steps of: storing uploaded contents in the contentsstoring means of the contents server; converting image data to imageletter data of almost a same size as a font size of text data displayedby a display of the contents display terminal, by the image convertingmeans of the contents server; and coupling the text data and the imageletter data and distributing the coupled data to the contents displayterminal, in response to a contents distribution request from thecontents display terminal, by the contents server.
 14. The contentsdistribution method of claim 13, wherein the image converting meansconverts the image data of the contents to preview image data of almosta same size as the display size of the contents display terminal; andthe contents server distributes the preview image data to the contentsdisplay terminal in response to a preview image data distributionrequest from the contents display terminal.
 15. The contentsdistribution method of claim 13, wherein the image converting meansconverts image data based on the font size of the text data displayed bythe display of the contents display terminal and the display size. 16.The contents distribution method of claim 13, wherein the contentsserver stores the font size of the text data displayed by the display ofthe contents display terminal and the display size as terminalinformation.
 17. The contents distribution method of claim 13, whereinthe image data is still image data.
 18. The contents distribution methodof claim 13, wherein the image data is moving image data.